Head Lice Comb Comparison

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Metal, fine-tooth combs work best -

Summary:
The proper lice comb is the most important
tool in your head lice control toolbox. Fine-tooth
metal combs work best for crushing and removing lice
nits while plastic combs are good for untangling
hair prior to nit-picking but the wide-spaced teeth
miss a lot of nits.

Jack
DeAngelis, PhDOSU Ext.
Entomologist (ret.)

Plastic or metal lice comb?

Most experts agree that nit, or lice
egg, removal is the single most important
part of every head lice control treatment and using
the proper lice comb is at the heart of the
whole process. Removing nits from hairs is often
called "nit-picking".

Lice combs are made from either metal or plastic (see
photo right). Metal combs, with stiff
tines, or teeth, and narrow
slots between tines, will effectively
remove or crush nits while plastic combs tend to
"skip over" nits and are not as effective. Plastic
combs should only be used to untangle long hair
before nit-combing with a metal comb (see Steps
To Safe and Effective Head Lice Control for
more information).

Metal head lice combs are getting
easier to find these days in drugstores and even the
health care isle of supermarkets. While not too long
ago you had to look far and wide to find a decent
metal comb, manufacturers are finally getting the
message that metal combs are by far the best
defense against head lice.

The metal-tined lice
comb on the left (dark blue) is far
more effective for nit removal while the
plastic comb on the right (light blue) is
better for untangling hair. The combs
pictured here are only examples and you
can find many different sizes and shapes.

Metal nit combs come in either short or
long-tined versions. Short-tined combs like the one
pictured above work best with short hair while longer
tines work better on longer hair. The proper metal
comb, a good light and a little time (well, maybe a
lot of time!) is the best approach to head lice
control. You'll also need a flexible, bright light
source that can be directed at the scalp. You can use
one of the new compact fluorescent lamps to reduce the
amount of heat.

Where to purchase lice combs

You may be able to find a good metal
lice comb at your local drugstore but if not here are
some options at lice
comb options at Amazon. Combing
aids are useful as well.

Lice shampoos and combing aids

There are a number products that aid
lice combing by allowing the comb glide more easily
through hair and by loosening the glue that attaches
nits to the hair shaft (see Using
Lice Shampoos and Lotions).
These products can help a lot but still the most
important "aid" is a good metal comb.